Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-01-14
OVER TWENTY LIVES LOST.
FIVE IN TRYING TO SAVE THE
OTHERS

FIVE ~ lh I Inv IL SAVE Inb
OTHERS
NORFOLK, January S.-One of
the most disastrous shipwrecks
which ever occurred on the Vir-
ginia coast happened at . o'clock
this morning near the Little Island
Lile-Saving Station, fourteen miles
south of Cape Henry. Not less
than twenty, and probably more,
lives were lost, including five life
saving men, who, in the discharge
Of their duty, were drowned. The
morning was bitter cold, and a
binding snow storm prevailed,
with the wind blowing a gale from
the northwest. During a lull in
the storm the life-saving patrol
from Little Island Life-saving Sta
ton sighted a large ship stranded
on the bar, about eight hundred
yards from shore. When he
saw the vessel, he was waiting to
meet his patrol from Dam Neck
Station, and exchange checks,
showing that both patrolmen bad
been to the end of their beat. The
Dam Neck patrol was only a few
yards distant when the vessel was
sighted, and both fired rockets to
notify the crew of the stranded
ship that she had been seen. They
hurried back to their respective
stations and gave the alarm. In
q little while both crew, with life
boats and apparatus, were abreast
of the wreck, and the boom of a
mortar announced that a line had
been shot out to the ill.fated YES
sci. The shot was unsuccessful,
and a second was fired, with like
result. After firing six unsuccess-
ful shots, the life.saying men de
termined 10 brave the furious sea
and the death which seemed GER
tain to await their venture. The
word of command being given by
Captain Belanza, Of Lite-saving
Station No. 4, known as Little Is
land, six of the most expert boat
men manned each boat. At his
command the men gave way with
a will, and in moment both boats
were breasting the furious-wave'
They reached the ship in safety,
and five of the ships crew were
taken in a life boat, and ten in a
ships boat, which was launched
for the purpose. The boats were
headed for shore, and not a word
was spoken, for each man realized
the awful peril which surrounded
them. With a steady pull, the two
boats were making good Roadway
for the shore when a wave of great
power struck both boats, capsizing
them instantly and pitching the
twenty-five occupants into the
boiling sea. Then began a desper'
ate struggle for life, and with many
of the men 1t was a prolonged one.
The Mortified life-savers on the
beach were powerless to assist their
drowning comrades or the unfOrtu'
nate strangers. The drowning
men were carried southwark by the
seas, and some of them were washed
ashore. AS they came within reach
they were picked up and endeavOrs
were made to revive them, and in
two instances with success, although
one of the two is badly injured.
The vessel is the German ship Eliz'
abeth, Captain Halberstadt, from
Hamburg to Baltimore, and not
one of her crew survives her wreck,
Her cargo is unknown, as the high
seas have thus far prevented any
attempt to reach her. 1t is thought
she is leaking badly, and at sun
set her masts were thought to be
giving way.
NORFOLK, VA, Jan. 1.-THE
news from the beach today was
especially meagre. The Baker
Salvage Company's steamer VIC
toria Peed is still alongside the
Elizabeth stripping the wreck, but
has held no communication with
the shore. She was being assisted
in the work by the chartered steam
er Job Il. Wilson, of this port
About l o'clock today a telegram
was received that another body
had been picked up between > and
6, several miles southwark OF the
wreck. Twenty-Five Of the twenty
seven bodies of the victims Of the
wreck have been washed ashore,
sixteen of which were members OF
the crew of the Elizabeth, four OF
which, including the Captain, are
supposed to have been identified.
The bodies of the life.saving crew
who lost their lives were buried
yesterday in the cemeteries at Sea
side Neck, West Neck aud Pungo
Ridge, and their obsequies were
attended by large numbers OF peo-
pie, whose sympathies were deeply
affected for the dead heroes and
their afflicted and bereaved fam